TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- The official betting lines heading into Alabama's season opener haven't changed much over the past four months.

Oddsmakers are pegging the Crimson Tide as a big favorite once again in its Saturday season opener against West Virginia. Danny Sheridan, whose odds can be found regularly on the AL.com sports page, lists Alabama as a 25 1/2 point favorite over the Mountaineers.

That jibes with the majority of other oddsmakers, which list Alabama anywhere from a 25- to 27-point favorite over West Virginia in the Atlanta-based neutral-site clash. The Mountaineers went 4-8 last season and were picked by the media to finish eighth out of 10 teams in the Big 12.

This marks the fifth straight year Alabama's been favored by double digits in its season opener. It's won by no fewer than 25 in its past four.

Alabama's streak as the betting favorite extends to 55 straight games and doesn't show any sign of letting up any time soon. The Crimson Tide hasn't been the underdog since the 2009 SEC Championship.